#So Bruce has to deal with digging his son out of a collapsed building again

[oifaaa]

personally I think jeon should have died after the batarang in utrh. not being able to save jason has killed bruce once, being directly responsible for jason's second death will absolutely destroy him <3

Jeon did die tho its just that he didn't stay dead but even if he did stay dead I'm not sure if the writers would of bothered to actually explore the effects killing Jeon himself would have on Bruce

[awhitehead17]

Whumptober 2020: Day 7 - I’ve got you

Prompt: Support

Summary: When Bruce pays Tim a visit, he finds that his son is burnt out. Being Tim’s father it’s his job to make sure Tim knows he has support no matter what.

Enjoy! :D

When Bruce entered Tim’s office he was fully expecting to see his son sat his desk either typing away on some sort of document or on the phone talking to someone.

He was paying Tim a visit because Bruce had brought some food for the two of them to share as a late lunch. According to Tam, Tim hasn’t yet eaten today and since Bruce had been wanting to see his son anyway, bringing food along with him seemed like a good idea.

Walking into Tim’s office Bruce immediately freezes at the unexpected sight of Tim with his head pillowed in his arms on top of his desk. He wasn’t on the phone or typing away like Bruce had predicted. 

Closing the door behind him Bruce goes to the desk and places down the bag of food opposite Tim. “Tim? You okay?” He asks worriedly.

At his question his son bolts into an upright position and wildly looks around for an imminent threat. Bruce watches with concern as Tim seems to get himself together upon realising that there was no threat and how it was only Bruce in the room with him.

Tim lets out a long breath and runs a hand through his hair. He sends a smile at Bruce, one of which was forced. “Oh hey Bruce, what can I help you with?”

Bruce continues to watch with wearily, deciding to go along with it for the time being. He gestures to the bag on the desk, “I brought lunch.”

Tim’s gaze goes from Bruce to the bag. “Oh? Anything good?” Despite his apparent interest, he doesn’t make a move to look inside the bag.

“It’s Thai,” Bruce answers, “from that little place across the street. Thought we could share as I too have missed lunch today.”

Leaning back in his chair, Tim lets out a sigh. “Thanks Bruce I appreciate it but I don’t have time to eat right now, though I’ll save it for dinner this evening instead.”

That makes warning bells go off inside of Bruce’s head. If that was the case, then why did Tim look so wiped out and stressed? Why was his head down on the desk and not busily on the computer?

Deciding he’s played along long enough Bruce moves around to the other side of the desk so he was next to Tim and leans against the desk facing his son. “What’s going on Tim? I came in just now and you had your head on the desk and you startled when I called your name.”

Tim suddenly looks affronted and frowns up at him. Bruce simply raises his eyebrows in question. After a moment he looks around at Tim’s desk to find no books or papers were actually on the desk and his computer wasn’t even turned on. It was like Tim just came into the office and placed his head on the desk.

“Nothing’s going on Bruce. I’m fine, just a little tired.”

It seems to be a lot more than that. Tim looks exhausted, the dark rings around his eyes suggest he hasn’t been sleeping a lot, his hair his a wild mess meaning he’s ran his hands through it countless of  times and the lack of work going on in that moment is suggesting that he’s just too tired to do it (or even care).

“Tim,” Bruce says softly, “talk to me. This isn’t like you. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah Bruce everything is fine, jeeze.” Tim sends him a smile but like that first one, this one is forced and doesn’t meet his eyes.

Bruce sighs. Looks like he’s going to have to go digging for information then. “How’s WE work? You don’t have anything out at the moment.”

“It’s good, it’s just a slow day today. All is going smoothly just working on a couple reports at the moment.”

“What about your night-time activities? Anything exciting happening?”

“It’s all quiet on that front. Nothing new or exciting has happened recently, it’s suspiciously too quiet.”

“What about your siblings? I think Dick was planning some kind of bonding activity on Saturday, has he spoken to you about that yet?”

“Yeah, Dick is planning for us to go to the zoo. I don’t particularly want to go but Cass is going so I might, she’ll make it bearable.”

“How’s Conner? I haven’t seen him for a while recently?”

When Tim doesn’t immediately answer, Bruce knows he’s hit the nail on the head. Something’s happened between him and Kon. That may explain why Tim’s been spending time at the Manor this week more than usual.

“Did you two have a fight?” He questions Tim gently.

It really does seem to be the answer to Tim’s mood because his son takes a shaky breath and wipes his rapidly blinking eyes as if he’s trying to stop himself from crying.

Suddenly Tim jumps to his feet which causes the chair he was using to go rolling backwards into the war not too far behind him. He looks at Bruce almost frantically, his tired eyes now open wide and his hands clenched at his sides.

Tim steps away from the desk, moving around it and starts pacing the room. Bruce turns with him and watches Tim as he travels back and forth.

“You want to know what’s going on Bruce? You want to know what’s going on!” Tim yells at him. “Everything I just said is a lie! I’m sick and tired of it all! I can’t deal with it for much longer! All the work that I have to do, all the responsibility that I’m carrying and what everyone is expecting of me, I am done with it.”

Tim stops his pacing and faces Bruce his hands making wild gestures as he lists off everything going on. “Board members are expecting four different reports, all due in the same week. I am going insane in trying to collect the data I need for them.

The Titan’s are driving me crazy because there isn’t anything to do except train, work on protocols and patrol. All they’re doing is whining about it like it’s my fault!

I am this close to killing my brothers Bruce. This close. Jason won’t stop pestering me for new weapon upgrades, I said to him that I’d work on them when I get the chance and I haven’t had the chance to. All Dick wants to do is cuddle and bond, like give a guy some space! And Damian, don’t even get me started on the brat!

As for Kon, where do I even begin? Yes he and I did have a fight. I have been spending time at the Manor to avoid him but I’m not apologizing until he does because it’s all his fault and the asshole won’t admit.

I am sick and tired of it all Bruce! I’m done, just done with everything.”

Tim finishes his ranting by collapsing on the sofa in the corner of the room with his head buried in his hands. Bruce’s heart feels heavy in his chest, he had no idea that Tim had been feeling like this. That all of this was even going on for his son.

He was burnt out and in need of a break.

Bruce goes to the sofa and settles down beside Tim, not yet touching him. “That certainly is a lot Tim. I’m sorry that you have all of that going on right now.” He comments evenly. His job, as Tim’s father, is make sure he knows he’s got his support no matter what.

“Right first thing, when are those reports due? I haven’t been able to keep track of them due to the contract meetings going on recently, which I should have been helping you out with so I’m sorry for that.”

“They’re due at the end of the month.” Tim mumbles from his hands.

“Okay, that's three weeks from now. What you’re going to do is give two of them up and hand one over to Tam to take care of and I’ll handle the other. Okay?” The only response Tim gives is a defeated humming sound. “That’s two less things going on for you.

As for your team if all they’re doing is whining then mute them and ignore their calls for a couple days, unless of an emergency of course. You need a break and that isn’t helping.

In the next day or so I’ll have a conversation with each of your brothers about giving you some breathing space. They shouldn’t be bombarding you like that, they’re all grown up enough to know better, even Damian knows the difference.

Now your relationship with Kon. Are you still together, are you taking a break for a week or two?”

“I don’t know Bruce!” Tim whines, still not looking up from his hands. “I stormed out of the house in rage and haven’t spoken to him since.”

“Tim, you know you’re going to have to talk to him soon right? Avoiding him isn’t the answer and is pretty immature. You’re better than that. Talking with one another will clear the air a lot quicker and then you both can make decisions on what would be best.”

“I know that. I just don’t want to.”

Bruce huffs in mild amusement, because of course that would be the case. “Well I can’t make you contact him but your problems will be over quicker if you do chat with him.”

Tim doesn’t answer to that, instead he finally lifts his head up and leans into Bruce. Bruce takes the motion in stride and wraps an arm around Tim in comfort, he even presses a kiss to his temple. “I love you bud and if it all builds up like this again then I want you to tell me so you don’t end up burning out and struggle to deal with everything. I’m here for you.”

Tim’s hums almost contently. “Yeah, thanks Bruce.” With a glance down Bruce sees Tim leaning heavily into him with his eyes closed. He smiles and allows Tim to stay there. He deserves the rest.